Page 43 of The Freshman

She sighed dramatically and flickedher hair. “If I have to.”

“Your customer serviceskills are amazing.”

Tia smiled brightly. “Thanks,Alfie.”

He frowned and shook hishead.

She joined him at her break, and herbright smile diminished any lingering anxiety. Their conversationstayed on safe territory, mainly the weather, rubbish TV, and thehot gossip she read in her magazines, but it was inevitable itwould turn to men.

“I had such a good dateFriday night, if you know what I mean…”

Alfie frowned. “I’m not sure Ido.”

“I went back to his place.It was … it was good, really good.”

Alfie raised his eyebrows. “That wasmore information than I needed.”

“You’ve got to putyourself out there. When was the last time you hooked up withsomeone?”

Not including his hand on Nate’s cock?He shrugged. “Months. Half a year maybe.”

“You’ve got to stop beingso choosy.”

Alfie frowned and flicked his cup.“I’m not.”

“Yeah, you are. You’ve gotyour walls so high it’s a castle around you. Drop the draw bridge,open the gate, and let someone in. It might be … reallyenjoyable.”

Alfie shuddered. “We’re not talkingabout me, but you and Chris.”

She tapped her finger to her chin.“Chris?”

“The guy that wrote hisnumber on the cup.”

“As I told you lastSunday, and the Sunday before that, it didn’t goanywhere.”

Alfie dropped his gaze. “Oh, sorry,who did you go out with Friday?”

“Are youbroken?”

“Not broken…”

“Then what is it?” Tiasighed. “You’re not your normal self, haven’t been for weeks. I washoping you’d just open up, but looks like I’m gonna have to forceit out of you.”

“And what’s my normalself?”

“You normally listen, andyou’re slightly happier than this. Only slightly, but stop stallingand spill.”

Alfie snorted. “Just, things are a bitcomplicated.”

Tia narrowed her eyes. “Complicatedhow?”

He sucked his straw instead ofanswering.

“Okay, what is it, work ormen?”

Alfie choked on his iced coffee andthumped his chest.

Tia drew her eyebrows together andglared at him. “Come on, Alfie, telling me might help.”

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